Earlier this year, the Gordon County Board of Commissioners solicited proposals from interested companies and organizations capable to facilitate or provide mental health services requested by the county.
The county, desiring to increase the available mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse counseling services offered in the community, awarded the bid to Fellowship Health Resources, Inc., headquartered in Lincoln, R.I.
“Fellowship Health Resources was awarded a contract on July 7 to deliver mental health services in Gordon County,” said Gordon County Administrator John King. “The contract will allow FHR to use the mental health building located at 320 North River Street in Calhoun. This 3000 square foot building was originally constructed through federal and state grants but hasn’t been used for several years. This contract with FHR will enable citizens to obtain counseling and a variety of mental health services locally without traveling out of town.”
FHR is a non-profit organization that provides services to individuals with mental illness and addiction disorders across eight states, offering 79 programs. Building partnerships in recovery, FHR supports and empowers thousands of individuals and their families, helping each person improve their quality of life.
“We’ve been looking at different program opportunities in Georgia for a while,” said Pamela Daisey, Chief Operating Officer of FHR. “Our Chief Information Officer resides in Georgia, so we were aware of changes within the behavior system in Georgia and felt that the services we provide, along with our own mission and beliefs, were what Gordon County was looking for.”
The mission of FHR is to assist people of all ages to improve their behavioral health, well-being, and quality of life. That includes offering programs for drug and alcohol addiction, suicide prevention and services, support groups, mental health including domestic violence, problem gambling services and peer recovery services.
“Georgia has a big focus on peer recovery services, which perfectly matches our mission,” said Daisey.
Peer Recovery Services are services provided by trained peers who have experienced mental illness and/or substance abuse. According to their website, FHR actively engages in the recruiting and hiring of persons with lived experience who have maintained stable recovery at FHR’s programs.
FHR will provide both voluntary and involuntary/court ordered treatment. At start-up, treatment will be offered in day-treatment programs, but Daisey hopes that will change quickly.
“We will offer day and intensive treatment,” said Daisey, “but initially, this will not be a residential facility. Once we are established in the community, we plan to offer residential services, but that will be in the future.”
FHR plans to open their doors on Sept. 1. “Right now, we are in the process of hiring,” said Daisey. “We are hiring a Program Director, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Unlicensed Qualified Mental Health Professionals to provide case management, and front office personnel.”
“We are so appreciative to Gordon County for allowing us this opportunity. We are excited about this partnership,” said Daisey. “We are looking forward to making a difference in the community.”
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